Cutting machine



Dec. 14, 1926. H. GERSTEIN CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 6, 1925 2` SheetsSheet 1 ATTORNEYS i Dec. 14 ,1926.

H. GERSTEIN CUTTING MACHINE Filled Jan 6. 1925 '2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Dec. 14, 192e.

i'JNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY GERSTETN, or RocKAwAY, NEW lYoan, AssreNoa :no HARRY cuans'rnrn,-

FRANK GERSTEIN, AND ABRAHAM enas'rrnn,

GERSTEIN BROTHERS.

COPARTNERS, DOING BUSINESS .AS

CUTTINGA MACHINE.

Application mea January s, 1925. serial No. 75e.

This inventionV relates to fabric cutting machines and particularly to machines of the general classemp'loyed in cutting bias strips from a tube or sleeve of material.

' An important object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the character men' tioned a generally improved combination of elements so relatedand arranged as to render the machine. reliable, dependable, accurate and economical in its operation.

Other objects and certain advantages of the linvention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the machine.

Figure. 3 is a front elevation of a take-up mechanism.

Figure 4 is a view 1n elevation of the take-up mechanism as viewed flrom the left in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line y5---5 of Figure 3.'

Figure 6 is a `fragmental view of a mandrel showing in elevation a tension device attached thereto.

Figure 7 isa view of the tension deviceas seen f om the left in Figure 6. y

Figu e 8 isa detail view of a drive pulley partly in'elevati'on' and partly in section.

Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8 showing details ofa braking device.

In'the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown 4what I consider the vpreferred form of my invention, the numeral 5 indicates an elongated mandrel suitably supported in a horizontal plane by means of an arm 6 secured to a suitable anchor 7. The mandrel 5 presents, at its forward end, a curvilinear face -8 adjacent to which is arranged a spreader 9 adapted to guide the tube or sleeve of material 10 .on to the mandrel during the operation of the machine.

In order to maintain the sleeve of material.

taut so that the same will snugly hug or engage theV upper 'surface of the mandrel, I have provided a tensioning device indicated, as a whole, by -the numeral 11. This tension device comprises a plurality of depending arms 12, preferably three in number, which are secured to theunandrel. To each of these arms there is slidably connected a movable support 13, the support being provided with anelongated slot 14 through which a pair of rivets or'pins 15 pass, the rivets being carried by the st'ationaryarm 12. To the lower ends of the supports 13 are connected a pair of rollers 16 which, when thel machine is operating, are enclosed within the tube of material 10 andengage the same as it passes onto and over the mandrel. In order to provide for the proper tensioning of 'the material through the instrumentality of the rollers 16, I employ a plurality of tension springs 17 the 'tension of which may be varied by means of thumb-screws 18 carried by the stationary arms 12. These springs are connected at their upper ends lto the thumb-screws 18 and are secured at their lower ends to pins 19 carried by the movable supports 13. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the pressure or tensioning effect exerted upon the material by the rollers 16 may be varied by increasing or decreasing the tension of the several springs 17`as desired. For example, if it is desired to increasethe tension exerted, the tension of the springs 17 is decreased, whereas, on the other hand, if it is desired to decrease the tension exerted upon .the material the thumb screws l18 are so adJusted as to increase the tension of the springs. v

The material 10, in tubular form, is carried by a supply reel 20, comprising a driven shaftl21, upon which is rotatably mounted a pair of discs 22, between which the roll of material is adapted to fit. The shaft 21 is journaled within projecting arms 23 of a rotatable reel holder 24, the reel holder being provided with a'shaft 25 journaled in a suitable support or bearing 26. To the `shaft 25 there is connected a sprocket 27,

operatively connected by means of a sprocket chain 28 to a similar sprocket 29 carried by a drive shaft 30, the drive shaft being provided with a pulley 31 adapted `for connection with a suitable source of power such as an e'lectricmotor, not shown. Notwithstanding the fact that the discs are loosely mounted upon the shaft 21 there exists a certain amount of friction between the shaft and the discs. As a result of this friction I am enabled to facilitate the turning of the roll of material by positively .driving the shaft 21. This positive drive 1s af- Ice 3f', Aof the roll of material decreases, however,

power transmission comprising a sprocket 32 connected to the shaft 30, the sprocket 32 being in turn connected by means of'a sprocket vchain 33 to a sprocket 34 loosely mounted upon the shaft 25. The sprocket 34 in turn carries a similar sprocket. 35 `which is connected, by means of a sprocketv chain 36, to a sprocket 37 carried by a shaft 38 journaled to the reel holder 24. This shaft carries a beveled gear 39 meshing with a similar beveled gear 40 secured to the shaft 21. It will be appreciated from the preceding description that as the reel holder 24 is rotated the shaft 21 is simultaneously ro'- tated, the rotation of the latter being in the direction of the rotation of the discs 22 as the material is unwound therefrom. mounting the discs 22 loosely upon the shaft 21 the necessity for elaborate compensating means, due to the increase in speed and rotation of the reel 20 as the diameter of the roll of material decreases, is eliminated. In this connection it may be well to point out that the `material, upon leaving the reel 20, travels at a constant rate of speed, as will later become apparent, and so also is the' shaft 21 driven at a constant rate of speed. If the roll of material carried by the reel 20 is of such a diameter, when the reel is completely filled, for example, that the reel rotates at the same rate of speed as the shaft 21 no relative movement between the-reel 20 and shaft 21 will exist. As the diameter the speed of rotationof the reel 20 increases for thel reason that the lineal travel of the .I roll is, therefore, almost negligible. Asfthe material leaving the reel remains constant but the speed of rotation of the shaft 21 remains constant. When the speed of rotation of the ree'l 2O is first'increased with respect to the shaft 21 the speed differential is very sli ht and the increased tension set up within the material as Nit leaves the diameter of the roll of the material is `further decreased the speed differential becomesgreat'er andA the tension exerted in the material leaving the reel is correspondingly increased, but not even when the diameter of the material is reduced to a minlmum is there a suiiiclent increase 1n tension I of the material leaving the lroll to impair the' accuracy in the operation of the ma- .chine inasmuch as the increase in speed of rotation of the reel 20 over the speed of the shaft l21 is relatively small.

In order to providela simple yet effective means fonbraking the shaft 21 to prevent any undue variation in speed as a result of backlash between the driving connections from the shaft 30, I employ at the outer end of each of the arms 23 a variable pressure device indicated 'as a whole by the numeral 41. Each of these devices comprises a screwthreaded plunger 42 adapted to enga' e` a screw-threaded ferruleA 43' within Whic is arranged a compression spring" -44 and a suitable friction or packing material 45-ar ranged in conta-ct wit theshaft 21. When the screw-threaded lunger. 42 is so run down as to exert a greater compression force against the spring 44 a similar increase in pressure applied to lthe shaft 21- through the backing'or friction material 45, is afforded, whereas, bn. the other hand, by proper adjustment of the plunger 42 the braking effect of the packing material upon the shaft may be decreased. The proper adjustment of the` plunger 42 may be determined, as will be readily appreciated,by observing the action of the machine and particularlythe driving connections afforded between the .shafts 21 and 30 during the operation of the machine.

As the material is passed onto the mandrel 5 the same is c ut into a bias strip 46 by means of a rotatable knife 47 operatively connected to an electric motor 4 8 carried by a suitable bracket 49 secured to the mandrel 5, the bracket being so Aarranged .that the cutting edge of the knife lies in a 'plane passing through the mandrel at right angles to a series of rollers embodied ina take-up mechanism 50 located vin proximitytothe mandrel 5 and hereinafter more particu-Vv larly described.

The take-up mechanism 5 0, above men'- l tioned, is employed as a means forremoving Ithe strip of material' 46 from the mandrel as it is severed or cut; from` the tube of material by the motor driven knife 47. This take-up device comprises a frame 51 having. lvertically disposed standards 52 to which is journaled an `intermediate shaft 53 carrying an intermediate roller 54 adapted to engage upper andlower rollers `55 and 56, respectively.y rIfhe" upper roller 55 is carried by a shaft 57 journaled in vertically movable bearings 58 arranged lll) Within guides or channels 59 formed in the standards 52. These bearings are normally urged downwardly by means of compression springs 60, the lower ends of which engage the bearings 58 whereas the upper ends engage cover plates or abutments .61 carried by the standards and secured thereto through the instrumentality of lag bolts 62 or the like. The lower roller is carried by a shaft 63 which is journaled in vertically. movable bearings 64, similar to those indicated by the numeral 58 land operating within the guides 59 formed in the standards`52. This roller is normally held in contact with the rollei` 54 by means of 'a pair of cams 65 pivotally connectedto the standards 52 and having arms 66 projecting therefrom which are connected together Vat their outer ends by means of a rod 67 which enables both cams to be operated simultaneously to disengage the roller 56 from the' roller 54 or to move the same into contact herewith as desired. In order to move the roller 55 out of engagement with the roller 54 I have provided a similar pair of cams 68 which lare pivotally connected to the standards 52 andare provied with arms '69 connected together at their outer ends by means of a rod 70 which enables the cams to be operated simultaneously. The cam's 65 and 68 are employed as a means for readily separating' the rollers 55 and 56 from the intermediate roller 54 to enable the strip of material atthe beginning of the cutting operation to readily rpass over the rolls as indicated in Figure 5. After the strip of material has beenthreaded into the take-up mechanism theicams 65 and 68 are so operated as to permit the upper and lower rollers 55 and 56 to move into engagement with the material as indicated, these rollers being held respectively in their operative positions by means the rollers thereof and mechanism,

`carried by by preventing wrinkling of the springs 60 and the cams 65. JBefore the material is threaded into the -take up it is threaded or passed through a suitable guide 71 associated with the takemechanism and arranged intermediate the mandrel 5. This guide comprises a pair of arms 72 which are the standards 52 and to which are connected a plurality of rods 73, 74,v and 75. This guide, as will be readilyA appreciated, affords a means for insuring the entrance of the strip of material into the take-up mechanism in a iat condition thereor creasing of the same.

which is connected to the shaft whereas the latter is connected to the shaftq53. The

.shaft 53 in turn is provided with a gear 79 adapted to mesh with similar gearsand 81 carried, respectively, by 4the shafts 57 and 63. By thearrangement of gearing herein shown fthe rollers 54, 55 and 56 are rotated in the direction of the arrows shown ,thereon thus'causing the material to pass through the take-up mechanism as indicated whereupon 1t mav ble reeling mechanism not shown,- arranged 'at the rear' of the take-up. mechanism and pulley y 82 shaft 53. If an ordinary roll adapted for connection with .a carried by the or reel is employed to receive thematerial and is driven by the pulley 82 it becomes necessary to provide a yielding engagement between the pulley 82and the shaft 53 to compensate for the necessary decrease in speed of the reeling device as the diameter of the roll of material received thereby is increased and' to this end I frictionally con.

be wound around asuita,

nect the pulley 82 to the shaft 53. This friction connection is afforded by means of a. friction or packing material 83 carried by the hub portion 84 of the pulley, the friction material being` adapted to be urged into engagement with the shaft 53 through the instrumentality of an adjustable screw 85 or the like. or down within the screw-threaded passage 86, into which it lits, any friction may be afforded bctweenthe shaft 53 and the pulley, the amount of friction required being dependent, of course, upon certainconditions incident tothe operation of the machine as will be readily:.understood In order to maintain the bias strip 46 in a more or less taut, and incidentally flat. condition intermediate the mandrel 5 and guide 71 I provide a tensioning` roll 87. This roll is journaled at one end in an-arm 88 carried by the mandrel 5- and is at its opposite end. journaled in a relatively long and more or less yieldable arm 89 suitably secured to the take-up mechanism 50. The arm 89, being yieldable, -permits the roll 87 tomove slightly up and down as th`e tension in the strip 46 varies and consequently maintains the material in an intimate engagement with the mandrel 5 particularly in the vic1n1ty of the knife 47 thus insuring a straight edge cut.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A cutting machine comprising a maudrel adapted to receive thereuponl a moving tube of material to be cut, tensioning means suspended from said mandrel and adapted to engage said tube of material and exert thereupon a tensioning effect, and resilient suspension means suspendimc,` said tensioning means and tending to lift the same toward said mandrel.

2.- A cutting machine comprising a mandrel adapted to receivel thereupon a moving tube of material to be cut, tensioning means suspended from said mandrel and adapted to engage said tube of material and exert thereupon atensioning effect, resilient suspension means .suspending said tensioning means and tending 'to lift the same toward said mandrel, means' for moving the tube of material progressively onto said mandrel, and means for cutting the material into a strip, the means employed` to move the material onto the'mandrel being employed also to remove the strip of material from the mandrel.

3. cutting' machine comprisingl a mandesired amount of Ill drel adapted to receive'thereupon a movingy tube of material tobe cut, and tensioning means suspended from said mandrel and 'adapted to engage said material and exert thereupon a tensioning influence, said tensionmg ymeans comprising a roller arranged longitudmally of said mandrel and spring devices yieldably suspending said roller and drel adapted vto .tending to drel.

4, A cuttingv machine comprising arfmaii- 4receive thereupon a moving lift the saiiietoward said man- 5 tube of material to'be cut., tensioning meansI 'suspended from said mandrel and adapted to engage said 'material and exert thereupon Y a tensioning inuence, said tensioning means comprising a roller arranged longitudinally of said mandrel, .tensioning devices yieldably supportingsaid roller and tending to lift the same toward said mandrel and means --for adjusting-the tensioning devices whereby` the influence'` exerted upon said material by said tensioning means is varied.

-5. A cutting machine comprising a mandrel adapted to receive thereupon a moving tube of material to be cut, tensioning means suspended from said mandrel and adapted' to engage said material and exert thereupon a tensioning iniuence, said tensioning means comprisingr a roller arranged longitudinally of said mandrel zand yieldably supported with respect thereto, means for varying the tensioning 'influence-exerted upon said matestrip, means for moving the material from ed over said rollers.

its support onto said mandrel to be cut into a bias strip and for removing said bias strip from said mandrel, said means being` in the form of an intermediate rpllerassociated with upper and lower rollers andA adapted to normally Contact therewith, a plurality of cams for moving the upper and lower rollers out of contactl with the intermediate roller -Whereby the strio of material may he thread- 7. A 'cutting machine 4comprising a mandrel, a sipportadapted tio-.support a roll lof l material in tubular form to be cut into a bias strip. a cutting device associated with said mandrel for cutting the material into a bias strip, means for moving the material from its support onto said mandrel to be cut into a bias strip and for removing said biasstiip from said mandrel, said means being in the form of. an intermediate. roller associated with upper and lower rollers and adapted to 'normally contact therewith, aplurality or' cams for moving the upper and lowerrollers out of contact with ther intermediate roller whereby the strip of material may be threaded over said rollers, and means arranged intermediate said rollers andmandrel for retainingthe strip of material in a Hat condition as it passes over s aid rollers. '8. A cutting machine comprising a man- "tiiig the material into a bias strip,

ytion means for said reel.

drel, a reel for supporting a roll of lmaterial in`tubular form tobe cut, acutting de- Vice associated vwith said mandrel for cuta take-up mechanism adapted to'fbe so operated as to feed the material to be cut onto said mandrelv and to remove thestrip of material therefrom, a reel support supporting said l i reel, means for rotating s id reel support about one axis as the material is fed onto said mandrel, land, means for rotating said reel about another axis simultaneously with the rotation of vsaid reel support,and fricretarding the rotation o t' 9. A cuttingfmachine comprising a maiid'relna reel adapted to carry a roll of material in tubular form to be-cut into a bias strip, means 'associated with said mandrel for cutting the material into a bias strip, a

take-up mechanism in the `form of a plurality of rollers over which the strip of `materia-l passes formoving the material onto said mandrel and for removing` the strip of material therefrom, means for rotating said rollers, and means located intermediate said mandrel and said take-up mechanism for maintaining the material in' intimate engagement with said mandrel. ,r

,10. A cutting machine comprising a mandrel, a reel adapted to carry a roll of material in tubular form to be cut into a bias strip, means associated with said mandrel for cutting the material into a bias strip, a take-u p mechanism in the form .of a pluralityv of rollers over'. which the strip of material passes, for moving the material onto said mandrel and for removing the strip of material therefrom, means 'for rotating said rollers, and means ,in `the form of a yieldably supported roller located intermediate said mandreland said take-up mechanism for, maintaining lthe .material in intimate 'engagement with said mandrel L 1l. A cutting machine comprisin a mandrel, a reel adapted to carry a rol of material in tubular aform, to be cut-into a bias strip, means associated withv said mandrel for cutting the material into a bias strip, a

takeup mechanism in the-form of a plurality of rollers over which the strip'of material passes for moving thea material onto said mandrel and for removing the strip of material therefrom, means dor rotating saidv rollers, means for simultaneously rotating said reel aboutMditl'erent axes, means for re- .itarding the rotation of said reel about one of said axes,I means arranged intermediate said .take-up mechanism and mandrel for maintaining the strip. ofv material 1n a fiat condition-as,itpasses over said rollers,land

a tension deyice associated with said man-- drelfor retaining the .tube of materialin a` taut condition as it passes onto said mandrel. y

llo

12. A cutting machine comprising a mandrel, a reel adapted to carry a roll of material in tubular form to be cut into a bias strip, means associated with said 'mandrel for cutting the materialinto a bias strip, a take-up mechanismv in the form of a plurality of rollers over which the strip of material passesd'for moving the material onto said mandrel and-for removing the strip of material therefrom, means for rotating said `rollers, means for simult-aneously rotating said reel about diii'erent axes, means for retardin fthe rotation of said reel about one of sai axes, means arranged intermediate saidl take-up mechanism and mandrel for maintaining the strip of material in a flat condition as it passes over said rollers, and a tension device associated with said mandrel for retaining the tubeof material in al taut condition as it passes onto said mandrel, said tensioning device comprising a plurality of rollers yieldably supported by said mandrel. A

13. Acutting machine comprising a mandrel, a reel adaptedl to carry a 'roll of material in tubular form to be cut into a bias strip, means associated with said mandrel for cutting the material into a bias strip, a take-up mechanism in the form of a plurality of rollers over which the strip of material passes for moving the material onto said mandrel and for removing the strip of material therefrom, means for rotating said rollers, means for simultaneously rotating said reel about different axes, means for retarding the rotation of said reel about one of said axes, means arranged intermediate said take-up mechanisml and mandrel for I l maintaining the strip of material in a flat condition as. it passes yover saidl rollers,

a tension device associated with said mandrel for retaining the tube of material in a taut condition as it passes' onto said mandrel,lsaid tension device comprising a plurality of rollers supported by ySaid mandrel and a plurality of springs associated With said rollers and adapted for adjustment to vary the tensioningm' fluence of said 'rollers upon said tube of m` terial.

14;. A cutting machine comprising a mandrel, a reel adapted :to carry a roll of material in tubular form to be cut into a bias strip, means associated with said mandrel for cutting the material into a bias strip, a

axes, means arranged intermediate drel for retaining the tube of material in a` taut condition as it'passes onto said mandrel, said tension devlce comprising a pludrel and a plurality of springs associated with said rollers and adapted for adjustment to vary the tensioning influence of said rollers upon said tube of material, and a spreader, arranged at the forward end of said mandrel and adapted to guide the tube of material ontosaid mandrel and over said tensioning device.

In testimony whereof, I have aixed'my signature toths specification.

ARRYv GERSTEIN.

-rality otrollers suspended from said man- 

